Parliamentary Question on PRTB Adjudications Process

Question No: 181 Ref No: 43282-14

To the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in cases where tenants in receipt of rent allowance leave a tenancy without due notice leaving bills and rent outstanding, if details of their new address may be made available from the Department of Social Protection to the PRTB as part of the adjudications process in order that the PRTB can then serve papers to those tenants in respect of previous rent arrears; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

– Anthony Lawlor.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 11th November, 2014.

R E P L Y

Minister of State for the Department of Social Protection (Kevin Humphreys T.D):

Under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, landlords are legally obliged to register tenancies with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). However, not all tenancies are required to be registered with the PRTB as the relevant legislation, the Residential Tenancies Act, provides for certain exceptions.

The Department works closely with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) to help ensure that rent supplement tenancies comply with the statutory system of tenancy regulation and safeguards.

The Department advises the PRTB, on a quarterly basis, of all new rent supplement tenancies to assist them in implementing tenancy regulations and co-operates in any initiatives taken by the PRTB to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act.